Delhi human rabies: The Delhi government is set to declare human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, a move aimed at strengthening surveillance and speeding up treatment to prevent deaths.
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the step supports the government’s target of “zero human deaths from rabies” in the capital, calling rabies preventable and stressing that no death from the disease is acceptable.
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Once the notification is issued, all government and private health facilities, including medical colleges and individual practitioners, will be required to report suspected, probable and confirmed human rabies cases to the relevant health authorities.
Officials said mandatory reporting will help track trends, improve coordination between human and animal health systems, and support targeted prevention in high-risk areas.
The government is also finalising a State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE) in coordination with local bodies, the Animal Husbandry Department and other stakeholders, according to an official statement. It added that vaccination and prevention services for humans and animals are being strengthened as part of the broader elimination push.
To improve access to post-bite care across the city, officials said anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) is currently available at 59 health facilities across all 11 districts of Delhi, while rabies immunoglobulin/serum (RIG) is being provided at 33 designated facilities and hospitals.
The New Indian Express
The notification is expected to take effect immediately after issuance and remain in force until further orders, with detailed reporting and coordination guidelines to be shared with health institutions and departments.